ME Consultant November 2022

Cover Story

The Night Sky: An Endangered Natural Resource

Ever wondered where the carpet of stars we see in so many images of the night sky has gone - and if there is a choice to the light pollution contaminating our night vistas?

HLB’s Maria Dautant explains that all is not yet lost…

Overview

JLL

Building the Cities of the Future

On Topic Profile of a Game-Changer

Middle East Consultant speaks to Olga Litkovets, Director, Business Development and Marketing MENA, Cundall about diversity initiatives

Sustainability Roadmaps to Net Zero

Louise Collins, Head of Energy & Engineering MEA, and Head of Project & Development Services UAE, for JLL gives a personal ‘snapshot’ of current states of play across key areas of the Sustainability agenda…

Modular Construction: A New Dawn

Middle East Consultant speaks with Roy Saker, Chairman of Modular Precast Systems International, to learn more about how modular construction could be the answer to sustainably addressing global housing shortfalls - as well as the industry’s notoriously high CO2 emissions

Diversity The Rewards of Diversity

On 25th October, the Women in Construction: Diversity & Inclusion Summit looked in-depth at the factors still impacting the widespread adoption of gender parity and diversity-friendly workplace policies

Ready to win an Award?

The latest edition of HKA’s CRUX Insight Report has now been published. It shows some disturbing trends shaping-up in the region, including the fact that - of any market in the world - projects in the Middle East are prone to the worst delays (lasting, on average, 83.1% of schedule duration).

This is partly due to the fact that in a sector where contracts can be notoriously vague, there can be all too little questioning about whether schedules are viable, and on-site project variations can lead to near-catastrophic issues further down the line. But nonetheless, the fact remains that across the GCC, we still see an extremely strong construction spend that is relatively consistent and stable. For Governments in this part of the world, spending on construction and infrastructure is a first-option, key strategy. And there we have it - in a sector where there can be many challenges, the Middle East still has one of the most powerful, vibrant and best-supported construction industries in the world, and there is a terrific amount for the companies contributing to it to be very proud of.

How proud of its work is your company? I ask because if you feel you have a story with telling, or a project worth showcasing, you need to nominate your business for a Middle East Consultant Award. The Awards feature 25

categories, designed to embrace the ambitions of companies and individuals alike. There is no doubt that the Middle East Consultant Awards gather momentum every year, and a key feature here is not only the sheer volume of entries, but the steadily-increasing quality. For example, you won’t find any project categories that aren’t linked to Sustainability, because the trend of previous entries has been that any projects worth their salt are of course now being envisaged - from procurement to execution and delivery - as a priori Sustainable. Similarly, if you want to be ‘Executive of the Year’, or know someone deserving of that title, there’s no expectation in terms of being on a C-Suite, having the designation CEO, or ticking some ‘traditional’ set of boxes: it’s all down to the impact you’ve made and how you’ve made it.

Of course, when it comes to nominating, there’s always next year, but I would urge you to take the view that ‘it’s now or never’ - because as any risk manager will tell you, working in the present is the best way to constrain risk - and your business may have to improve its performance by ever-growing margins once you give other companies the chance to catch up with you.

Apply now: I look forward to seeing your nominations.

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Understanding the complexities of making Vision 2030 a reality

INTERVIEW: Surpassing Net Zero on the table for Sharjah Sustainable City

PROPERTY

Al

Museum exhibition

INTERVIEW: A quantum shift in city design thinking is on the horizon

VIDEO: Komatsu HM400-3R

MOST POPULAR

CONSTRUCTION

GAJ hands over The Citizens School in Dubai

The school is said to be double the size of other schools in the catchment area, spanning 43,000sqm

MACHINERY

Hidromek introduces new earthmoving machinery series

The ‘Hidromek Next’ series comes with LIDAR technology designed to make operating zones safer, says the manufacturer

CONSTRUCTION

Dar Al Arkan completes KSA’s first 3DCP villa

Standing at 9.9m tall, the villa has been constructed using locally made materials including cement, sand, rocks and stones

CONSTRUCTION

Construction of wasl tower to be complete by Q2 2024 says developer

The 302m-tall twisting, asymmetrically designed tower will feature the region’s tallest ceramic façade and present an illusion of dynamic motion

MACHINERY

Volvo Group to produce battery modules in Ghent by 2025

The new high-tech module factory is expected to operate on an almost fully automated process with robots

MACHINERY

INFRASTRUCTURE

Alstom opens new regional office in Riyadh

CONSTRUCTION

The Middle East’s most respected consultant focused awards ceremony

PROPERTY Leasing of residential and retail units at Expo Village to be handled by Savills

Al Hamra launches Falcon Island – South residential project

Manitowoc launches upgraded Grove GRT8100-1 rough-terrain crane

CONSTRUCTION

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi set for 2025 completion

UAE Real Estate Market Q3 2022 Overview

JLL reviews the supply and performance of key sectors in Q3 2022 in the UAE

that hybrid working is here to stay.

Healthy leasing activity in Dubai has led to a shortage in good quality office space, with several prime developments within the CBD at near-full occupancy. Also, there are signs of pent-up demand in the market; for example, DMCC recently announced that Uptown Tower – which is due to be completed later this year – is now fully pre-let.

ince there were no new office completions in Q3, Dubai’s office stock remained unchanged at 9.1 million sq. m. In Abu Dhabi, the delivery of an additional 63,000 sq. m. of new space pushed up the city’s office stock to 3.93 million sq. m. Whilst no new supply is planned to be delivered in the capital in the final quarter of 2022, around 53,000 sq. m. is scheduled to be completed in Dubai.

Over the past nine months, robust demand for good quality office space has driven down vacancy rates across both cities – in turn applying upward pressure on rents. In Q3, Dubai’s Grade A CBD rents saw double-digit growth to reach an average of AED 2,084 per sq. m. per annum and Abu Dhabi saw a 9% rise to AED 1,750 per sq. m. per annum.

New enquires saw a marginal dip during the summer period but remained healthy overall in Dubai. The bulk of enquiries in Abu Dhabi were for co-working and serviced office spaces, demonstrating

Office vacancy rates in Dubai’s CBD reached 13% in Q3 2022, an 8%-point fall compared to a year ago. The vacancy rate for a basket of Grade A & B buildings in Abu Dhabi also fell, albeit by a smaller magnitude of 3%-points.

In the near-term, landlords are expected to remain in the driving seat during tenant negotiations due to the demandsupply balance tipping in their favour. Also, we expect developers to reassess previously-mothballed office projects in view of current market fundamentals.

Over the past nine months, robust demand for good quality office space has driven down vacancy rates across both cities – in turn applying upward pressure on rents.

RESIDENTIAL

Around 6,600 residential units were handed over in Dubai in the third quarter, raising the total stock to 672,000 units. In terms of upcoming supply, an additional 20,000 units are scheduled for completion in the emirate in the final quarter of 2022, with any delays to deliveries expected to largely be rolled over into next year’s figures. In Abu Dhabi, approximately 1,900 units were delivered in Q3, bringing the city’s total number of dwellings to roughly 278,000 units.

An additional 2,000 units are planned to be completed in the capital by year-end, mainly within masterplanned communities. Residential sales transactions saw remarkable growth over January-September 2022 according to data from the Dubai Pulse, with both volume and values up more than 45% year-on-year. The strong buyer activity was reflected in prices, which were up 9% year-on-year in August. End-users using mortgage finance to purchase properties have been rushing to lock-in fixed rates in an environment where both interest rates and rents are rising quickly. Indeed, REIDIN’s citywide residential rent index showed annual growth of 25% in August.

Price growth is also being fuelled by investor demand. The latter category has been returning to the off-plan market in force, whilst sales in the secondary market

have also picked up in view of the upward trajectory of yields.

In Abu Dhabi, demand remains strong for new developments located within investment zones – particularly for townhouses and villas. This has been demonstrated by the successful launch of recently delivered projects. Year-onyear, in September, residential prices in the capital increased by an average of 4% and rents grew by 2%.

RETAIL

During the third quarter, there were no new retail projects completed in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi. In the final quarter of this year, approximately 154,000 sq. m. of retail space is scheduled to be completed in Dubai and 197,000 sq. m. in the capital.

Retail rents are steadily rebounding in annual terms, with a 3% increase in Dubai and 5% growth in Abu Dhabi in Q3. Whilst the easing in restrictions has been helping footfall to recover, mall owners are recognising the importance of differentiating their offerings in a landscape where there is ample supply. In view of greater competition, malls are introducing more experiential retail concepts and are seeking to have a greater variety of outlets for visitors to their properties.

With ample supply available for retailers to choose from, potential tenants are being more strategic in selecting their locations for new outlets. Due to these dynamics, mall owners are seeking to attract international brands that do not currently have a presence in the region. Also, landlords are looking to bring in homegrown concepts – particularly in the F&B segment. These have the appeal of offering unique experiences for their

HOSPITALITY

Dubai gained 1,000 keys in Q3, pushing the city’s total hotel stock to 146,000. In the final quarter of this year, an additional 6,000 keys are expected to be delivered across the emirate. Whilst no new stock was added in Q3 in Abu Dhabi, the capital is scheduled to see the completion of around 600 keys by year-end.

Although summer is the low season for tourism in the UAE, the latest figures nevertheless demonstrate the sector’s rapid recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data from Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, the emirate received around

2.95 million overnight visitors between June and August 2022 – a significant jump compared to the 1.17 million recorded in the corresponding part of last year. On the same basis, Abu Dhabi witnessed a 24% increase in overnight visitors to 910,000, according to DCT Abu Dhabi. Whilst luxury and beachfront properties have been performing well, the pick up in tourism is now also benefitting the mid to low-segments by capturing demand from source markets that have traditionally supported these categories of hotels.

This uplift was reflected in the hotel performance figures. In Dubai occupancy levels reached 70% between January and

August 2022, a notable jump compared to the same period of last year (58%). On the same basis, average daily rate (ADR) reached USD 181 and revenue per available room (RevPAR) surged to USD 127. In Abu Dhabi, performance figures also posted improvement over the same period. Occupancy levels reached 68%, compared to 63% last year, whilst ADR and RevPAR rose to USD 105 and USD 71, respectively.

Hotels are likely to continue to perform well in the coming months, benefitting from upcoming events such as Formula 1, NBA Games and UFC 280 – as well as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar which is anticipated to have spillover effects for this market.

THE RITZ CARLTON JBR / DUBAI / UAE

The Middle East’s most respected consultant focused awards ceremony

07 December 2022

About The Event

These awards celebrate the consultants - whether businesses or individuals - at the heart of the construction and development sectors. As well as honouring outstanding technical skills, they highlight the change-makers who deliver better, fairer, and more sustainable business.

The construction and development sectors are among the largest sources of income for every GCC nation and their innovation, scale and breadth of vision has helped focus world attention on the Middle East. These awards honour not only the subject specialists

– the architects, technicians, risk managers, designers, and technologists – but also the disruptors: the people pushing the envelope when it comes to critical factors like sustainability, gender balance and iconic leadership.

The Categories

Ranging from the best multi-discipline consultant to the lighting firm of the year, the diversity of the categories aims to give a chance to all the companies that play a vital role in the industry.

About Sponsoring

Raise your brand profile, establish yourself as a thought leader and utilise this opportunity to encourage new business and empower your sales teams to generate effective new leads.

Award Nomination Enquiries

Paul Godfrey | +971 55 472 9717 paul.godfrey@cpitrademedia.com

Table Booking & Sponsorship

Andy Pitois | +971 4 375 5473 andy.pitois@cpitrademedia.com

2022 Awards Categories

COMPANY AWARDS

Architectural Company of the Year Cost Consulting Company of the Year Dispute Resolution Champion of the Year Gender & Ethical Employment Champion of the Year

Health & Safety And Wellness Champion of the Year

Interior Design Company of the Year Lighting Design Consultancy of the Year Mep Engineering Company of the Year Multi-Discipline Consulting Company of the Year

Project Management Company of the Year

2022 Event Partners

Specialist Consulting Company of the Year Enterprise Business of the Year (Up to 5 Years Old)

Structural Engineering Company of the Year

Sustainable Consultancy of the Year Company of the Year

PROJECT AWARDS

Project of the Year – Government & Infrastructure

Sustainable Project of the Year – Retail & Public Facilities

Sustainable Project of the Year –Residential & Commercial Sustainable Project of the Year –Hospitality & Tourism

COMING SOON – PEOPLE’S CHOICE VOTING CATEGORIES

Under 30 Champion of the Year Executive of the Year Women in Construction Professional of the Year

PRESENTED BY

GOLD SPONSOR

SOCIAL MEDIA SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR SILVER SPONSOR

PRESENTED BY PRESENTED BY

SUPPORTING PARTNER

SILVER SPONSOR CATEGORY SPONSOR NETWORK SPONSOR

Profile of a GameChanger

Middle East

Consultant wanted to review the key diversity initiatives being taken by a world-class international business. We decided to focus on Cundall, a company with 21 offices globally, and spoke to Olga Litkovets, Director, Business Development and Marketing MENA

right messages are then crystal clear and sent to everyone in the business. A big step in our D&I journey was appointing Kieran Thompson as Head of Talent, Diversity & Inclusion in 2019. Shortly after, we set about creating a strategy and driving an important series of improvements to how we do things. We set ourselves stretching targets and held ourselves visibly accountable for our successes and failures, not least through opening up regular channels for feedback and dialogue on our progress. Kieran has a proven track record in driving culture change within large, complex organisations, and is known in the construction industry for his contributions to diversity and inclusion - and we felt that this kind of experience would help Cundall to achieve our goal of becoming the most inclusive business in our industry.

“Moreover, in July this year, we further demonstrated our commitment to ‘walking the walk’ when we appointed Carole O’Neil as our Global Managing Partner. Carole is an incredibly impressive business leader, and one of the only figures from an HR background to lead a major international business in our sector. She is already breaking through many barriers as a non-technical female leader within the industry.

“We’ve also created several thriving, employee-run networks (sometimes known as “ERG’s”), which not only provide strong levels of peer-to-peer support but raise awareness outside Cundall, into the wider industry. Let me give you some examples of what they do.

working to influence greater gender diversity, representation, and inclusion across the whole practice.

“The GAIN network aims to facilitate discussion among women and gender minorities, and to encourage further gender equality at Cundall. The network welcomes participation from men as allies who wish to play an active role in challenging gender inequality in our business and our industry.

“Divergent is our newest network. This has been an incredibly popular network, and is focussed on neurodiversity - specifically driving neuro-inclusion across the practice. This means fostering a business culture and ways of working that removes barriers to success for dyslexic, autistic, ADHD and other neurodiverse colleagues.

lga, what initiatives have you put in place that have enabled the Gender, Diversity & Inclusion agenda to develop more traction in this sector?

“The first thing I should say is that here at Cundall, we believe that it’s vital that these initiatives start at the top, so the

“Firstly, there’s Mosaic. Mosaic is Cundall’s Ethnicity & Culture network and provides a forum for people of minority and underrepresented ethnicities and cultures to connect and share experiences and ideas. Mosaic is influential in promoting ethnic diversity, representation and inclusion at Cundall. The network is inclusive, and as such welcomes participation from any colleagues (regardless of ethnicity) who would like to learn about and support diversity and inclusion on the basis of ethnicity and culture.

“Then, we have GAIN. GAIN is Cundall’s Gender, Affinity and Inclusion Network

“Did you know that 1 in 7 people are neurodivergent, but typically, only 1 in 20 people are identified? This means many of us are working alongside people in our teams and businesses who process information and the world in a way that is atypical. So, the goal here is to better appreciate the specific strengths and preferences of all of our colleagues, so we can all work more collaboratively towards shared success. Our neurodiverse community can bring new perspectives which will help us to work more effectively both individually and together. An example: let’s imagine for a second that we’re building a set of shelves. Would we really try to use a screwdriver or tape measure to help with inserting a dowel or would we use a hammer? But if we were putting a hole in the wall to attach the shelves, we wouldn’t be using the hammer. As fantastically as the hammer performed in the first scenario, a drill would be far better suited to this job. Both tools could be used in each scenario, but they both have specific strengths that we should take advantage of.

In the same way, we should aim to develop and utilise the talents of our people to the best of their abilities. We’re all human, we all have different strengths – so it is key that we enable those strengths to flourish.

“Something that I also want to emphasise is that, following the comprehensive overhaul of our recruitment and selection policy, we’ve adopted - for the first time ever - what’s known as the ‘Rooney Rule’ for our leadership-level recruitment.

“No doubt that this is a bold step. It requires us to interview at least one ethnic minority and one woman for all leadership roles. We feel this is a necessary tactic to ensure we are casting the net beyond our immediate networks and hiring the very best leadership from all backgrounds and identities. It also demonstrates the urgency behind our drive to bring about representative role models at the top of the business.”

Have you created Diversity initiatives that are truly marketleaders, above and beyond those we see in other businesses? “Let me give you some examples here of how we work both internally and externally.

“Firstly, we have a number of outreach activities. For example, we sponsor students from underprivileged communities and we offer three internship and student sponsorships. We reach out proactively and work with schools and universities to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity.

“We’re putting a big focus on working with schools, in fact, because it’s important that we can inform and inspire children before they get to university - this really makes a difference in terms of the gender balance across key subjects and courses. Just take a look, for example, at how well this approach has worked with business and management courses - and there’s no reason why it can’t also work across the STEM disciplines, too.

According to Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Management, about 67% of all undergraduate and post-graduate business students in the UAE are women - and 42% of those are Emirati women! It’s only by better

outreach to schools that we’ll see a similar shift across the relevant STEM subjects.

“Another good example is our dedicated Inclusive Leadership programme, which runs for 12 months and has been rolled out to 25 senior leaders across the business. This programme ensures that leaders are taking the time to understand their own biases, to engage with different views and perspectives, and to convert their good intentions around the principles of diversity and inclusion into visible action.

“Linked to this, we feel strongly that a workplace culture that offers dignity and respect to all, that encourages the sharing of ideas and perspectives, and that values difference, is of benefit to everyone.”

“A key factor here, for example, is in recognising - and responding to - some of the classic difficulties that women have had to deal with in the workplace. So often, ‘returners’ have had to settle for second best, but here at Cundall, women returning from maternity leave are mentored by key leaders so they can revise their skillsets as required, get back context and equilibrium, and return to full productivity. ‘Returners’ can also work for three days per week, not five, in order to achieve better work/life balance in those early days of parenting. The key is that we take nothing for granted when it comes to the individual circumstances and ambitions of returners.”

What are the key things that a business needs to action in developing an effective Diversity programme - and how has your organisation been a Champion of these?

“I believe there are four critical steps here; the following are the actions that Cundall took:

• The first key action was to listen to our people. We carried out extensive internal surveys. We can’t assume, we really need the facts, and that means listening to our employees and giving them the opportunity to be critical.

• Creating and empowering employee networks, as discussed earlier. This is a powerful channel and creates a

community that can do things differently.

• Visibly taking actions - those networks each have a dedicated budget to run initiatives, and their voice is heard at Board level – but we have also been pushing to ensure that visible action is taken by members of our senior leadership team.

• Accountability - holding each other accountable and shifting to cultures where leaders can be enfranchised in the dialogue, reached, and if necessary, criticised.”

What would you describe as the key successes so far and what are your prime objectives?

“Our commitment is to continue on our ED&I journey, and to build a business that really embraces the power of difference Our journey is just beginning and we have a long way to go, but we have already achieved some impressive results. I am excited about where we go from here.

“Plus, this has been an exceptional 12 months:

• We have doubled (2X) the proportion of women among our leadership

• We’ve seen a 15% increase of women in our workforce

• We’ve implemented 15 new policies to help drive improvements to our culture and ways of working

“Cundall has set a clear strategy for diversity and inclusion. By initiating targeted positive action across recruitment and development we are super-charging our push for a more representative workforce, while simultaneously raising the standard of leadership and management across the practice. There is no question about trying to fill a particular quota – we are only interested in the very best people at all levels. But through the changes we have implemented in recruitment and development, we’re no longer fishing from such a small pond. There are exceptionally talented people from diverse backgrounds in our business and across our industry; and we are determined to ensure they are all welcome and supported to flourish at Cundall.”

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

BUILDING THE CITIES

OF THE FUTURE

Dr. Petar Stojanov, Partner and Practice Lead of Innovation and Future Strategy at Black, casts a thoughtful eye over some of the more mind-blowing interpretations of an urban future…

n a recent visit to Dubai’s Museum of the Future, full of powerful evocations of an interactive ‘day after tomorrow’, one exhibit stood out - tucked away on a wall in a corner of one of the exhibits, a set of Arabesque digital shutters opened to reveal a view of downtown Dubai. An eerily familiar scene, of course, except here it’s appended with an organised cacophony of flying vehicles.

This reminded me that, like many areas of life, the role of cities and their future design are in desperate need of an upgrade. Taking into account challenges such as rising CO2 emissions and the desire for people to lead a simpler, more sustainable existence, coupled with the inevitable rise of urbanisation, we are at the precipice of a developmental revolution.

But first, in order to create the solutions to address the challenges of the future, we need to look back at how we got to where we are today.

Today’s ‘modern’ cities were planned and built when an automobile was the prevalent - and ubiquitous - mode of transport. The result is that now, our cities are choked by automobile traffic coming in from every direction. The utopia we envisioned in the 1950s of the suburbs feeding a vibrant city centre, is failing miserably. As migration to the suburbs expanded, so too did the need for better

transport links and more infrastructure to support cities and the areas that fed into them. Instead, what we’re getting are ever-increasing commuting times and increased traffic into city centres at a time when CO2 emissions are already at their highest levels ever.

In places such as Dubai and the wider Gulf states, urban developers have proven the capability to inhabit the uninhabitable. Not only proving that desert living is possible, but that it can also be world-class. But as we look to the future, the ability to continue to inhabit these areas must go a step beyond luxury: in short, it must ensure that they are also sustainable.

As the world reckons with the effects of global warming and rising sea levels, the calls to find developmental solutions that can lower energy levels, CO2 emissions and employ environmentally friendly materials, grow louder. Those developers with experience building in the harshest of

The Line is a modern paradigm of creating a future setting which combines sustainable minicommunities with vast futuristic scale.

climates are at the forefront of harnessing the knowledge to develop the innovations needed to address the future of sustainable urban development. Plus, they’re using the latest technologies and materials to envision urban models that defy traditional constructs.

There is already some movement in this space. In Saudi Arabia: The Line, a project being developed by NEOM, is looking to attract nine million people to live, work and play in a unique environment that stretches from the Red Sea inland by 170 kilometres. At only 200m wide, the development occupies a footprint of just 34 square kilometres.

The Line imagines an urban environment that runs on 100 percent renewable energy and free from cars, roads and emissions. A city free of traffic jams.

The developers refer to The Line as “a civilization revolution that puts humans first, providing an unprecedented urban living experience while preserving the

surrounding nature.” The smart, linear city will be made up of two mirrored, 500 metres high edifices (in a nod to blending into the surrounding nature) and features green outdoor space in between. Residents will have access to all facilities within a five-minute walk, and a high-speed rail offers end-to-end transport in 20 minutes’ time - a linear transportation system running at an average speed of over 500 kph.

Mock-ups of the project are both futuristic and striking. According to the website, the environment within The Line “has been carefully designed to allow for an optimal balance of sunlight, shade and natural ventilation.” Unveiled by the Saudi Arabian government in 2021, The Line project is part of the country’s Saudi Vision 2030 and construction on the project is currently well under way.

In a statement, HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said, “We cannot ignore the [liveability] and environmental crises facing our world’s cities, and NEOM is at the forefront of delivering new and imaginative solutions to address these issues. NEOM is leading a team of the brightest minds in architecture, engineering and construction to make the idea of building upwards a reality.”

Adding, “NEOM will be a place for all people from across the globe to make their mark on the world in creative and innovative ways. NEOM remains one of the most important projects of Saudi Vision 2030, and our commitment to delivering The Line on behalf of the nation remains resolute.”

The design model of The Line is referred to as ‘Zero Gravity Urbanism’. Giving architects and engineers the freedom to

design up and out in any direction - as long, of course, as it’s along a line. While some developers might see linear development as a claustrophobic constraint, others are intrigued by a revolutionary concept that could redefine design and engineering paradigms in a way that could potentially decipher the global issues we’re faced with today.

The idea of building up is nothing new. Skyscrapers have been around for almost 140 years, with the first (a 10-storey building) being erected in Chicago in 1885. Cities like Dubai, New York and Hong Kong have revolutionised prime real estate using skyscrapers. If ever there was a single device that can best capitalise on maximising land value where it’s both highly limited and highly sought after, the skyscraper would be it.

For the cities of the future, vertical urbanism will be an increasing feature of urban planning, but how might it be used to address sustainability in the future?

During the writing of this piece, Latviabased architectural firm Znera Space released the first images of Downtown Circle, a concept unlocking the vertical volume of space surrounding downtown Dubai. Znera Space’s vision replaces traditional skyscrapers with a 550-metretall ring encircling the entire district.

For the Downtown Circle, the designers are unlocking land in the 3rd dimension by combining both vertical and horizontal urbanism. As if to prove its own point, the Downtown Circle seeks to encircle one of the most densely skyscraper-populated urban centres in the region. The concept is daring and one that would significantly change the landscape of Dubai, already known for its expanse of skyscrapers. With a circumference of three kilometres, the Downtown Circle would be made up of five levels, and poised atop five structural pillars. The choice of numbers is likely not a coincidence.

Beyond the futuristic look, the idea behind the Downtown Circle has sustainability at its core. Najumus Chowdry and Nils Remess are Znera

As the world reckons with the effects of global warming and rising sea levels, the calls to find developmental solutions that can lower energy levels, CO2 emissions and employ environmentally friendly materials, grow louder”

The Downtown Circle may only be at concept stage but already presents a breathtaking possibility.

The Downtown Circle aims to be a selfsustaining city with homes, offices, and vertical green space - known as the Skypark - that connects all five levels.

“The Skypark is the central spine of the entire design,” says Chowdry. “It will be a mixed-use green space and it will also act as a space to rethink how agriculture is going to happen in the future, especially in cities.”

Space’s principal architects and in a recent CNN interview, explained how the idea came to be:

“We wanted to create a microclimate in Downtown and create a sort of envelope around the area to control the temperature and make it more liveable in hot weather,” said Chowdry. “You can use those vertical [pillars] as urban air purifiers.”

It’s a concept Chowdry and Remess used in another concept known as The Smog Project, which was shortlisted for a World Architecture Festival award in 2018 under the ‘Experimental Future Project’ category.

“If you look historically, first came agriculture and then we built the city,” adds Remess. “Now we have kind of lost this concept. With this greenbelt inside the structure, we want to bring back agriculture and food production to the city center.”

Like the NEOM project, a tram located on the outer ring is also part of the plan. Featuring 20 pods that can travel up to 100 kilometres per hour, a trip on the tram will also offer incredible 360-degree views of Dubai. And again - no cars.

Whether or not they come to fruition, these innovative concepts are the result of a growing challenge, rebuking historical perspectives on what a city should be. The architects responsible are provoking us to rethink what the future of urban planning will look like.

A key component of how we will live in the future will rely on how we will move. As the former Futurist-in-Residence for one of the world’s leading Hyperloop projects, it’s a question I spent years pondering, leading our Australiasian efforts on the Hyperloop project.

No stranger to wildly ambitious development projects, we focused on creating a 42-minute link between the city centres of Sydney and Melbourne - then one of the most highly-trafficked air corridors in the world - and making travel between the two cities faster than air travel.

Even more interesting was to connect the entire Eastern seaboard, in the world’s largest and most ambitious Hyperloop project to date.

But what makes the concept of the Hyperloop so captivating is not the technology itself, but what it can unlock.

When you can move people at over 1,200 kilometres per hour, the world starts to look very different. Land has an intrinsic value, therefore if you are able to link up highly trafficked corridors in a fast and optimal way, you then have the ability to unlock regional land through value capture.

Think about living in a town 500 kilometres away from the nearest capital city, but getting to the heart of the city centre in less than 30 minutes.

For Hyperloop, we considered a

completely carbon neutral value chain. But we were also aware of the impact it could create in the bifurcation of land, and how that might affect the thousands of flora and fauna species, desert plants and animals native to the region. Our solution was to raise the system on 7-metre-high pylons to minimise the migration of animal and plant species. It’s

a concern, and one that urban planners in the future will need to be sensitive to.

As urban planning begins to tackle the cities of the future, transport in and between cities will be as vital to design as the buildings themselves.

Or perhaps the future of cities is the megalopolis, where two cities connect to form greater economic opportunities. We could already see this with Dubai and Abu Dhabi, much like Hyperloop looked to connect Melbourne and Sydney, could these two UAE cities use urbanism to further stimulate connectivity and economic growth?

As the Gulf states continue to answer the challenge of how to build in the harshest of climates, the questions surrounding future sustainability and economic growth are quickly being added to the equation. Perhaps the very same people who figured out how to terraform the desert into a luxurious oasis might be best placed to answer the next sustainable urban development challenges.

What makes the concept of the Hyperloop so captivating is not the technology itself, but what it can unlock”

The Night Sky: an endangered natural resource

HLB’s

hroughout history, the night sky has served many purposes and we, humans, have had a special connection to it. We have been looking up to the stars for millennia searching for an understanding of our place in the universe. Civilisations used stars as a compass, a map and even as a calendar. And beyond the practical uses we have given stars, our connection to the night sky also had a spiritual significance that has influenced architecture, culture, language, arts, and customs. The night sky has even served as a source of universal inspiration in iconic works like the instantly-recognisable painting by Vincent Van Gogh, The Starry Night.

My grandmother used to say that when she was a child she was only allowed to play outside after dark if there was a clear sky and a full moon. This, of course, was before the arrival of electricity to her town.

With the development of electric lighting, our lives have improved in many ways. Our days are no longer limited by the availability of daylight and walking around cities after dark can be an enjoyable experience. It is fascinating to stop by Shibuya in Tokyo or Times Square in New York; or take a break and enjoy ‘A Symphony of Lights’ in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour or the Burj Khalifa’s light show. It is undeniable that electric lighting has come a long way and it is now an integral part of our world.

But as beautiful as these light shows may be, the increasing brightness of cities and urban areas has limited our access to that night sky our ancestors knew so well and sometimes depended on. In fact, the excessive and poor use of electric lighting has now been catalogued as light pollution.

In recent years we have come to realise

that brighter is not better. Although not as well-known as air or water pollution, light pollution has many negative effects in the environment and wildlife, and it can even affect our health and wellbeing.

Disruption in sleep/wake patterns for many different species, disorientation during avian migration and turtle nesting, and the loss of wild, undisturbed habitats are only some of the issues wildlife is facing with the uncontrolled use of electric lighting at night. Even humans are beginning to experience disruption with our own circadian rhythm, which can lead to many diseases, including cancer.

According to the World Bank, 56% of the world’s population live in cities and it is expected that this number will double by 2050. Furthermore, data from the U.S. Department of Energy indicates that light pollution is increasing at twice the rate of population growth and 83% of the global population currently lives under a lightpolluted sky.

This means that, first, most of us have never experienced the majestic beauty of the night sky and for new generations it will be harder to have access to it; and second, true darkness is rapidly disappearing from our world and sky glow is slowly erasing stars from our nights.

It is time to stop thinking of the night sky as a privilege and consider it an endangered natural resource that we must do our best to preserve. Not only to protect our health, environment, and wildlife but also to preserve that inspirational connection to the universe that helped our civilisation move forward in the past.

FINDING THE BALANCE

Darkness is simply defined as the absence of light. However, the word has always had a negative connotation.

My grandmother’s town used to be plagued by ghosts that, according to her, lurked in the darkness. Until one day electric lighting came to her town, and all these evil spirits suddenly disappeared.

Unconsciously, we may relate electric lighting with safety, and this may be one

Ever wondered where the carpet of stars we see in so many images of the night sky has gone - and if there is a choice to the light pollution contaminating our night vistas?

Maria Dautant explains that all is not yet lost…

of the reasons why we do not want to let go of it, and we continue to add more of it to our cities.

However, our eyes have a magnificent ability to adjust to dim environment. In fact, just as my grandmother’s experience when she was a child, the light reflected by the full moon could be enough for us to see clearly at night, if no electric lighting was present.

Contrary to what many may think, the solution to the growing problem of excessive lighting is not to turn the lights off. The solution is to find a balance and rethink the way we design lighting for outdoor spaces.

The Illuminating Engineering Society and the International Dark-Sky Association

worked together to recently release the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting that aim to protect the night sky.

These are:

• All light should be useful and have a clear purpose. Before installing or replacing a light we must determine if it is needed.

• Light should be shielded and directed only to where it is needed.

• Light should be no brighter than necessary.

• Controls such as timers or motion sensors should be used to only activate

light when it is needed.

• Warm colour light should be used where possible.

At HLB, however, we want to go beyond these five simple principles. We believe it is in our collective best interest to reframe the definition of outdoor lighting and work with communities and local authorities to establish guidelines that allow people to have quality access to the night sky through the responsible use of outdoor lighting.

By reframing the meaning of ‘dark sky friendly’ lighting, we seek to prove that a responsible and conscious design doesn’t have to be boring or feel ‘too dark’. On the contrary, we believe that high quality lighting design that creates engaging

LinkedIn Middlefield Campus Architect: Studios Architecture

Photograph: Kyle Jeffers

spaces without compromising the access to the night sky is readily achievable.

It is not enough, however, that only lighting designers and a few others understand the value of responsible lighting. Without having communities and local authorities on board, the visibility of the night sky may disappear from most places around the world in the next few decades.

One of the main issues is that just as other types of pollution, light pollution doesn’t just affect the areas where it is generated. Skyglow can ‘travel’.

Skyglow is defined as the brightness of the night sky as a result of light pollution. It is a diffuse glow mostly coming from cities that can be seen up to 240km away and which makes the overall sky so bright, dimmer stars are washed out from view.

So, even if you wanted to leave the city to be able to see the stars, you may find yourself unable to do so because of the contributing skyglow coming from several places around you.

Here is where city guidelines will be key in promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly lighting practices that may even reduce the skyglow in and around cities where we all live. By working with local authorities in developing these guidelines we also seek to foster a culture of ‘thinking outside the box’ when it comes to outdoor lighting.

SUSTAINABILITY AND THE NIGHT SKY

Renewable energy sources and greener economies are a big part of the sustainability agenda of the GCC. Last year, the UAE announced the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and Saudi Arabia has committed to have 50% of its power come from renewable sources by

2030, aiming for a Net Zero emissions target by 2060.

As important as it is for the world to tackle global warming, true sustainable development will not be possible until we include wellness in the equation. And to achieve wellness, for us and the ecosystem, it is important we tackle light pollution in the same way we are tackling other sources of pollution.

Looking at a sky brightness map of the Middle East you may notice that some of the brightest cities in the world are located in the Gulf, specifically in Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. However, it is also interesting to see that areas that still preserve a pristine night sky can still be found in the Middle East.

As cities in the GCC continue to grow and as we begin to develop parts of the region that have remained untouched for generations, we must be careful to preserve and protect the ecosystem and the night sky along with it. This can only

Grand Avenue Park Bridge Architect: LMN Architects Photograph: Adam Hunter/LMN Architects

be done if design teams, developers, and local authorities work together to tackle the issue from all sides.

At a minimum, as lighting designers, we must promote and encourage cities and communities to include responsible lighting guidelines as part of their local building codes. This would be a first step to aid in the preservation of pristine night sky regions that may be close to populated areas, as well as the improvement in the access to the night sky in existing communities.

The best-case scenario would be that city guidelines start recognising excessive light as a pollutant and create regulations to control it accordingly. This doesn’t mean that our streets will be dark or that we will not be able to see a Burj Khalifa light show ever again. On the contrary, guidelines must promote the use of adequate lighting for safe transit and appropriate control technology to activate cities and communities in a way that we can minimise the waste of energy and light spill into the sky, which will contribute to achieving the sustainability goals of the region.

Considering the rapid disappearance of this inspiring resource, it is important that the lighting design community in the region join hands in promoting the preservation of the night sky as a common practice.

Unfortunately, we cannot fight for something we don’t know exists. As most of us have grown up in cities with little to no access to the night sky, the lighting design industry may need to start by helping communities understand the

importance of this resource and how delicate it is.

As experts in the field of lighting, we must also reach out to local authorities and work together to include the preservation of the night sky as a key element of the sustainability agenda.

And finally, in addition to advocating for the use of the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting, we should

and design responsibility around darkness. Our common goal should be to push the envelope and create a ‘think outside the box’ approach to the design of lighting for exterior spaces. It is our responsibility to activate cities and communities, but to do so in a respectful and considerate way with intention and purpose.

Through all these efforts, we may be able to increase the number of areas where we can renew our connection to the night sky and maybe once again find comfort in seating under a clear sky, surrounded by millions of stars, and enjoy watching our children play under the moonlight.

focus on creating a culture of creativity

Nvidia Phase II, Voyager

Architect: Gensler

Photograph: Jason O’Rear

Audain Art Museum Architect: Patkau Architects Photograph: James Dow, Patkau Architects

irstly, Louise, what do you see as some of the current trends in the quest for Sustainable development?

What’s happening today that wasn’t trending two or three years ago?

“Well, as the Middle East strengthens its Sustainability commitment, we are definitely seeing huge growth in Sustainability trends across multiple sectors and geographies. Some notable examples would include the following -

1. Firstly, people are no longer talking about general certification; instead, they are talking about Net Zero roadmaps. Of course, it’s being led by some of the big developers and global corporates, but we can nonetheless see the authentic measures of real estate owners to establish where they are - and to report actual commitment and future targets to GHG emissions.

2. We are also seeing a bigger push on renewables, with clients pushing to locate as many as possible on site. This is on the back of a huge reduction in the cost of renewable energy, including solar panels.

3. Then there’s what I call the ‘hunt for innovation’ - developers and designers are pushing for inclusion of new technologies within their designs. Whether this is about materials, or the tech within the buildings or across developments, clients now have

Roadmaps to Net Zero

A well-known Sustainability advocate and commentator, Louise Collins is Head of Energy & Engineering MEA, and Head of Project & Development Services UAE, for JLL - a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $19.4 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 102,000. Middle East Consultant asked her to give a personal ‘snapshot’ of current states of play across key areas of the Sustainability agenda…

The zero-carbon city that Saudi Arabia plans to build at NEOM will vertically layer homes, offices, public parks and schools.

an expectation that this should be included as part of the solution and the final design or implementation.

“Together, there is no doubt in my mind that these are benchmarks of real progress.”

Is it really possible for Giga-projects (of the kind we see, eg, in KSA) to actually be carbon-zero?

“The intention and ambition is real, but of course, there is a huge amount of effort that goes into carbon zero projects. We need to remember that most of these Giga-projects are in their infancy. When Giga-projects make statements about decarbonisation, we need to understand the timeline and approach to decarbonisation, and these are not always completely clear right now.

“Decarbonising a Giga-project means a huge investment in the design; it includes materials and the supply chain as well as operations, choosing the least carbonising systems - and a massive reliance on technology and renewables.

“Technology and innovation will play the biggest role in the reduction of carbon in Giga-projects, bearing in mind a Gigaproject programme can take up to 10 years - which means the designers and supply chain must be looking ‘down the line’ to technologies that currently, are just in the R&D phase. That’s a daunting thought.

“Notwithstanding, Giga-projects have a huge opportunity and role to play in decarbonisation. They have a great ability to influence these sectors and to pull in more advanced technology and supply chain methodologies. We can look to them as ‘templates of the new’, even if they cannot always offer all the practical deliverables right now.”

Are we seeing a quantum reduction in the price of Sustainable materials as they become more commonplace and more easily procured?

“Yes. Sustainable materials are definitely becoming more widely available, and as demand grows, we are seeing cost reductions in the market. Material cost variations due to global supply chain issues are skewing some cost information right now, but it is clear that the availability and cost of sustainable products have made significant in-roads in the last five years.

“What we are seeing is a greater alignment of sustainable materials and baseline product costs, as the Middle East is driving demand for greater capacity of materials in the region. Post-covid reliance alignment is driving local manufacturing, recycling and repurposing. With increase in demand through clients’ Sustainability commitments, we expect even more competition and wider availability of materials, which will further drive down costs going forward.”

What imminent breakthroughs in Sustainability is science about to make possible?

“If I knew the answer to this I would be a very wealthy person! Some of the big game-changers we are seeing at buildinglevel include the following:

• Materials: zero or low-carbon cement, CO2 mineralisation, biochar.

• Construction: solar PV, aerogel insulation, photovoltaic facades and modularisation will play a huge part.

• Operations: IOT, digital twins and smart energy controllers

• Demolition & re-use: recycled fine aggregate, reclaimed wood and irradiated recycled concrete.”

Is there a distinctive ‘twist’ to the Sustainability agenda here in the GCC that we don’t see elsewhere?

“The beauty of the Middle East is the abundance of solar energy available, which many countries are really focusing on for grid decarbonisation. The Mohammed

bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will have a capacity of 1,000 MW by 2020 and 5,000 MW by 2030, which will make it the largest solar power plant in the world.

“Once completed, the park is likely to reduce more than 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

“Apart from having the potential to be the biggest solar park on the planet, the facility will also feature the largest solar tower in the world, standing over 850ft. tall and producing 700 MW of clean energy.

“The UAE is probably one of the most ambitious countries in the world, in terms of announcing a 31% GHG reduction by 2030. Saudi Arabia has committed to

reducing emissions by 278 million tonnes by 2030; and along with announcements of Neom’s net zero, this is another region that has also got global recognition. Egypt has committed to decarbonisation of the grid by 33% by 2030. With the Middle East hosting COP 27 & 28 in the next 15 months, I have no doubt announcements of even more commitment are imminent across the region.”

Do you believe that we’ll see ‘retrofitting’ of buildings in order to avoid urban hotspots and facilitate natural cooling?

“Yes, for sure, unlocking operational savings and upgrading structures is a must for buildings in the region. Yet there will also be a proportion of buildings that have to be demolished due to poor building quality and the high level of effort that it would take to upgrade that to a minimum operational standard. The reality is that finding the balance between upgrading and demolishing existing stock is a very fine line, and considering the carbon requirement for demolition and rebuild against upgrades, this will be very challenging - especially since the focus of decarbonisation will move from big grids into buildings at micro level in years to come.”

To what extent do you see the ‘repurposing’ of existing communities (eg, the style of re-fitting that we’re seeing in districts of Sharjah) as a feasible alternative to demolition, re-plan and re-build?

“Well, where possible, re-purposing and upgrading are always the best scenarios for building. When developers, investors and designers can reimagine and optimise older assets, the conventional “recycling” of buildings has the least impact on our carbon footprint if done correctly. Unfortunately - unlike Europe - there are only very limited number of listed buildings in the Middle East, so the ownership and responsibility is with the developers to repurpose developments.

Giga-projects have a huge opportunity and role to play in decarbonisation. We can look to them as ‘templates of the new’, even if they cannot always offer all the practical deliverables right now”

About the

Construction Intel Summit KSA

Work on a number of large-scale, iconic construction projects is well underway in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of its Vision 2030 blueprint. While the Kingdom’s leadership aims to transform the country, it also wants to be mindful of what this transition means for its people, its culture and its environment.

Therefore, as the GCC’s largest country moves towards a more diverse and sustainable economy, it is essential that the global construction industry equips itself with the knowledge and insight to grasp the unprecedented opportunities presented to them by Saudi Arabia’s transformation.

This is why the Construction Intel Summit KSA is coming to Riyadh on November 23, 2022. The third edition, and the first live iteration, the Construction Intel Summit KSA aims to inform and educate attendees about the massive opportunities that remain across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Networking Opportunity

This event presents you with an opportunity to interact and connect with regional industry decision makers and influencers. There are several innovative ways to sponsor and participate from speaking opportunities to branding, interactive live polls to presentations. Contact us for detailed information.

Gavin Davids | +971 4 375 5480 gavin.davids@cpitrademedia.com

hristian Vasquez is Business Development Executive & Project Architect, National Engineering Bureau (NEB). NEB’s project portfolio includes a good many of the record-breaking super-talls across the UAE, notably in Dubai Marina. But Christian combines his challenging day job with running and driving the UAE chapter of one of the world’s largest expat associations for architects: the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP).

So Christian, can you tell us about the UAP and its international standing? “The UAE chapter effectively represents what is internationally one of the largest lobbies for architectural reform and practice, and it has ‘chartered’ status through a portfolio of key association memberships. So, it’s the National Section representing the architects of the Philippines in the UIA (Union of International Architects), a member of ARCASIA (Architects Regional Council Asia) and it’s active in the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) registry of Architects.

“Currently, the UAP has over 70,000 members within the Philippines and abroad. It was awarded PRC’s Outstanding Accredited Professional Organisation of the Year Award no less than nine times (2002, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).”

What about the Chapter here in the UAE?

“Well, with over 500 Global Filipino Architect Members from 487 Companies, it was founded in 2010 by the Filipino Registered Licensed Architects working in the UAE.

A Powerful Force for Architectural Change

speaks

“Dubai’s population of design and construction professionals is massively organic and quite competitive. With the city’s fast-paced development and an ambitious commitment to project innovation, being an architect in Dubai is quite challenging. Thus, continuously developing ourselves and working on our professional status is a necessity. Belonging to a community that promotes professional growth is very helpful in terms of keeping up with the current and future trends in the industry.

“UAP Dubai upholds the highest educational and professional standards and in doing so, not only does the organisation promote its home-grown talent, but also empowers the design community as a whole.

“Winston Churchill’s epic statement, “We shape our buildings and afterwards, our buildings shape us,” is a fantastic comment on the architectural phenomenon. His words actually express a powerful truth that holds the key to architecture’s future: architects shape lives.

Middle East Consultant

to NEB’s Christian Vasquez, as we put the spotlight on United Architects of the Philippines (UAP)

In terms of embracing the futureand building the future - tell us more about some of your current initiatives at UAP Dubai?

“I always believe that at the UAP Dubai Chapter, we don’t just look at the bigger picture, we create the bigger picture!

“For example, UAP Dubai has always been committed to embracing digitisation and future proofing its membership. While WEB 3.0 and METAVERSE are still at its infancy, UAP Dubai is already investing in learning to harness its technologies and day-to-day use. We’re already using the blockchain-powered Web 3.0 extensively. From last July, all Dubai-based members have been equipped with Tetrix' Link Smart Card. Tetrix Link harnesses the nearfield communication (NFC) technology present in mobile phones to enable users to conveniently share their information in just one single tap. So it takes networking to a whole new level!

“Powered by the blockchain Tetrix Network and Pitaka crypto wallet, our members will be able to select and store their information, such as their personal contact details and relevant social media accounts, and share these data when they tap or hover over their smart card to an NFC-enabled mobile device.

“What’s more, UAP Dubai’s first NFT collection will be released on 27th November 27, 2022, along with the launching of UAP 124's METAcademy.”

Tell us about some of the large-scale events that you arrange?

“With over 90,000 views online, our UAP2020TALKS during the pandemic was indeed a world-class event, and featured the likes of Patrik Schumacher of Zaha Hadid Architects, Christos Passas of ZHA, Joe Tabet of JT+Partners, and Ben Piper of Killa Design.

“Pre-pandemic, the UAP Dubai events were averaging from 400 to 600 attendees under one roof - very few organisations can match that level of attendance!

“Our theme for the cluster of 2022-2023 events is: ‘Skip Forward to the Future’.

We recognise that continuing education in architecture is crucial to advancing and improving the profession - and in fact, architects need continuing education to maintain competency and empower them to be globally competitive and gamechangers in our industry. So, we are all set to conduct quarterly events exclusively for the membership, and this November, we will be witnessing the biggest gathering of Filipino Architects around the GlobeThe Game Changer Conference 2022 in Dubai. It is a collaboration between 32 UAP Chapters from Middle East and South East Asia.

“Five Game Changer speakers will present topics that are simply inspirational. From designing the tallest hotel in the world, the role of architects in the Metaverse, and

talks dedicated to Blockchain Technology, NFTs and Web 3.0. This is all part of the commitment we have this year to futureproof our membership in the profession.

Tell us more about UAP Dubai’s NFT

collectables?

“UAP Dubai, along with Tetrix, put together and will launch the Global Filipino Architects NFT Collectibles. Each artwork in the collection is minted as a one-of-akind “non-fungible token” (NFT), bearing variation of a Tamaraw (a wild cattle species found in the Philippines) illustrated in the styles of different UAP members’ characters.

“The NFTs are ‘valuable assets’ and the members can choose to keep, trade or sell them in the future. This represents a new way to reward the members. They are tokens representing the amazing achievements of our members, and each artwork is a collectible that can grow in value over time.

“One last point I should mention: this is set to be the 1st and the biggest NFT collectibles in any professional organisation of architects in the world. I believe this says a lot about the strength, power and mindset of our UAE Chapter.”

The Rewards of Diversity

On 25th October, the Women in Construction: Diversity & Inclusion Summit looked in-depth at the factors still impacting the widespread adoption of gender parity and diversity-friendly workplace policies

about women’s and men’s roles at school - and project that it into later life?’

he Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, was the setting for a highly compelling day’s debate, focusing on issues such as: ‘Why, in 2022, are so many companies still basing salary on ethnicity?’; ‘Why is so little attention paid to women returning to the workplace after pregnancy and ensuring they can be fully up to speed?’; and ‘How is it that we still roll out the same tired stereotypes

Moderator Paul Godfrey - Head of Content, Middle East Consultant - started the event by giving a timely example of how the ‘will to power’ can come from mastering key techniques such as always being proactive, never reactive; and always having rich content - especially when workplace senior managers would least expect it!

He then announced the Diversity in Construction Report and how it was now published online, and its value in giving clear templates and examples of best practice when it comes to gender and diversity issues. The Report’s contributors - JLL, Compass Project Consulting, AESG and HKA - had each given comprehensive answers to a set of 10 questions, looking

in depth at how to overcome some of the more classic challenges and objections to fair employment.

The threads of those answers formed the key content for the day’s first panel session, called: ‘Lessons learned from Grade A businesses: how to be a champion of ED&I’. While looking at where the trends lay, the panel also put a sharp focus on the initiatives that still urgently need to be taken. Moderated by Paul Godfrey, the panelists were:

• Shorouq Hamawi, Regional Communications and Marketing Director – International Development, South Asia, Middle East & Africa, Mott Macdonald

• Marina Kindelan, Associate Facades Director, AESG

• Chris Bernard, Partner, Global People

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SILVER SPONSOR SILVER SPONSOR SILVER SPONSOR ASSOCIATED PARTNER

Recruitment & Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, HKA

• Elaine O’Connor, Head of Fit Out MEA at JLL

So provocative was the discussion here, that a number of attendees have since described the session as the best, most animated and most productive that they had ever heard - a fitting testimony indeed to the calibre of the participants and their work in preparing and researching the debate’s ‘touchstone’ topics.

FOLLOWING THE BENCHMARKS

Marie-Joelle Ghaoui, Director, Architecture & Engineering Services, KEO International Consultants, then followed up many of these conclusions with her excellent paper titled: “The Cultural and Commercial Hallmarks of a Diversity-aware business’. So, if a business has taken the gender and

diversity debates very seriously, what efforts should we expect to see it make?

Marie-Joelle qualified the actual benefits to staff and stakeholders and the style of benchmarks that the organisation would reference and, in turn, deliver against.

Katarina Uherova Hasbani, Partner and Global Director of Strategy and Advisory, AESG, then looked at the raft of commitments that her own company, a contributor to the Diversity Report, had made, and why. Her presentation‘Delivering a comprehensive and proactive approach to gender and diversity: AESG’s experience’ - detailed the remarkable end-product that a multi-disciplinary consultancy has achieved by following a rigorous approach from the top-down.

What about, though, the age-old issue of gender equality, parity of pay and quality of working culture for ‘returners’? These

were all factors addressed by Naomi Miles, Regional Director of Human Resources, Middle East and Africa, SNC-Lavalin Group, in her presentation: ‘Equal pay for equal jobs and why it’s not a reality in the GCC’. She brought in a host of detail befitting the research abilities of a world-leading business, and showed that roadblocks can in fact extend far beyond the traditional barriers to fair and equal pay.

Following a break for lunch - when the lobby was indeed filled with animated discussions and a plethora of theories as to why the speed of change hadn’t been faster - Kabira Bhatporia, Head of Human Resources, MEA & Turkey, JLL, looked at the raft of protocols and international best practice standards that a Fortune 500 organisation should embrace - all typified by JLL, with its ranking as No.187

in the Fortune list. Her presentation, ‘Gender and Diversity best practice: the responsibilities of a Fortune 500 business’ looked exhaustively at the mix of procedures that JLL uses to ensure gender parity and strong diversity contingents.

FROM THE GROUND UP But what if a company doesn’t have the resources of a Fortune 500 player, and has to maximise scarce revenues and literally ‘start somewhere’? Moderated expertly by Chris Bernard, Partner, Global People Recruitment & Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, HKA, the day’s second panel looked at the practical steps to be taken and how to leverage buy-in from across the organisation. In a debate called ‘Effective gender and diversity representation - steps to progress’, the featured panelists were:

• Michelle Najm, Director of Architecture - Head of Department , JT + Partners Architectural and Engineering Consultant

• Rachel Willacy, Regional Head of Procurement, Compass Project Consulting

• Alphya Zareene, Resident Engineer, National Engineering Bureau

• Mennah Abdelkarim Darwish, Design Manager, Select Group

• Sara Guinand, Senior Digital Construction co-ordinator, ALEC One of the key findings of this panel was then taken up by Paul Godfrey in his closing remarks - and in giving these final comments he was joined on stage by a panelist from the last session, Rachel Willacy. There was a general consensus that in future, the Summit should focus more on the Diversity element, since

the gender debate was now very much something ‘in process’, at least on the part of leading businesses in the region.

For those smaller businesses, falling into the SME and Enterprise categories, at least the proper role models were now in place, and there could be some optimism about best practice trickling down. Diversity, however, remains a more testing, controversial and difficult subject, and both Paul and Rachel felt that even the leading-edge organisations were still often ‘hedging their bets’ when it came to answering troubling issues such as equal pay across ethnicities and dealing effectively with phenomena such as neurodiversity. Here, it was agreed there was much work to be done - but at least, no shortage of enthusiasm in the hall to reunite next year and progress the debate considerably further.

recent UN report predicts that by 2050, around 2.5 billion more people will be living in urban centres. But we don’t need to look that far into the future to see some of the potential challenges. In the MENA region, a 2018 Statista chart highlights that there is already a shortage of nearly 3.6 million affordable homes.

It gets worse. With sustainability playing an increasing role in construction, there’s a need for the industry to cut down on CO2 emissions and adopt more sustainable practices, with a 2020 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction report claiming that the building sector accounted for 38% of all energy-related CO2 emissions in 2019.

It’s a tough needle to move, but the reality is that, ultimately, short-term thinking leads to inefficiency - resulting in greater waste, increased energy consumption and higher emissions output. To face this ever-present challenge, we’ll need to think about solutions that can address the scale of the problem and do so in a sustainable way.

But with great challenges comes great innovation. As builders are increasingly motivated to adopt more sustainable practices for the future, research and development is bringing us new sustainable materials that achieve equal, if not better performance, and are sometimes also cheaper than their less sustainable rivals. It’s a lucrative industry, with ResearchandMarkets forecasting

the global sustainable building materials market to grow at a CAGR of $425.4 billion USD by 2027.

From concrete that cures by absorbing carbon dioxide out of the air, to bricks made from recycled plastic waste, the construction industry is seeking out alternatives to traditional materials.

But it’s also reimagining how we put all these materials together in a way that can meet the massive scale needed, and to do so in a sustainable way, that new approaches in modular construction are reimagining how we construct.

So, what exactly is modular construction? If you’re thinking of the prefab houses made famous in postwar Europe and SE Asia in the 1950s (structures quickly thrown up to solve a housing crisis, with no intention of being made to last), think again. The modular constructs of today have been designed with sustainability first. Cleverly devised

to eliminate waste and conserve vital energy and time, modular construction re-imagines the entire construction value chain, integrating the process from initial design all the way through to final finishing and handover.

Roy Saker, Chairman of MPSI (Modular Precast Systems International) has led the development of a monolithic 3D construction technology over the past 25 years. ME Consultant spoke with Mr. Saker to learn more about the potential for modular construction to improve existing best-practices within the construction industry, to drive a more sustainable future of construction.

Modular Construction: A New Dawn

Middle East Consultant speaks with Roy Saker, Chairman of Modular Precast Systems International, to learn more about the ‘green’ revolution taking place within the building sector, and how modular construction could be the answer to sustainably addressing global housing shortfalls - as well as the industry’s notoriously high CO2 emissions

Modular construction’s ‘first principle’ of ease-of-assembly is rapidly moving away from predictable shapes and structures, to encompass more ambitious designs and scopes.

“Traditional construction is heavily labour-intensive, but with modular construction, we’re redefining the building process. Instead of ‘building’ using conventional pre-casting systems or blockwork, we cast the four walls and the ceiling of each room as a single monolithic module with no gaps. For a standard villa, around 12 to 14 of these modules are ‘assembled’ to form the villa, using far fewer people, in a way that greatly decreases the time and energy used with conventional blockwork,” explains Saker, adding, “and we can do it in three hours”.

The process has significant implications for finishing. Since modules are produced with tolerances down to 1mm, far fewer tradespeople are needed to smooth out skewed hand-laid blockwork walls or to fill in precast joints. Indents on the top and bottom of each precast module allow for rapid onsite assemblage, and all MEP conduits are incorporated during the fabrication stage. The claims are almost no material waste, with minimal rework required.

Roy Saker says: “We think of them as human-sized LEGO blocks. We can create a home, or a multi-storey dwelling room by room, up to eight-storeys high, with all the internal wiring and plumbing needed, and then stack it together in a matter of hours,” explains Saker, adding that the system has already been used to construct several million square metres of property across Australia, Abu Dhabi, India and Lebanon, with projects across MENA and the Caribbean underway.

“MPS is faster, strong and cheaper than any other construction system on the market” explains Saker, a point recently confirmed by a regional Ministry of Housing assessment which ranked MPS in #1 place in a comparison of the world’s leading modular construction systems.

When pressed on the possibility of creating unique structures, Saker explains that the cleverness is in the design stage, where the architects value-engineer designs to best suit the technology. Engineers then design every detail down to the last MEP conduit and render the entire property in

3D, before a single drop of concrete is cast.

This type of construction could be a game-changer in areas where large-scale housing developments are in demand. While modular design and construction is already well ingrained in the West, the technology is quickly gaining traction in the MENA region, where the housing shortfall is placing increased pressure on build time, while maintaining high standards of quality.

What’s more, the factory is built temporarily onsite, facilitating production in a way that greatly reduces vehicle movement, saving on transportation costs and dramatically reducing the project’s carbon footprint. It’s also far less disruptive to the surrounding community.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Remember that time is money.” Saker explains how the group thinks about largescale projects. “With our technology, we don’t think in numbers, we think in time. If we’re building 500 homes a year, we need seven assembly jigs. Up that to 1000 homes a year, and we would increase to 12.

Once the factory is set up on-site, modules are produced in a factory line and with the right teams, you could potentially be putting up two to three homes a day,” says Saker. “For bigger projects, factories are scaled to accommodate demand.”

Beyond residential housing, modular construction is prime for projects such as schools, hospitals and office buildings. And it’s a market that’s experiencing serious growth. According to Statista the global market value of modular construction is expected to reach $175 billion USD by 2025, thanks in part to rapid urbanisation in developing countries.

The housing shortage requires skilled labour to address. As in many industries today, attracting and retaining the right workers with the right skill sets can be challenging. Modular construction can address this challenge.

Roy Saker further clarifies that: “With our assembly jigs, the modules are manufactured so precisely that interior walls are fair-face finish meaning they are ready to be painted. In fact, painters, electricians, and plumbers love working with our system, because 80% of their work is already done before they arrive on-site!”

Developers are constantly looking for new solutions to improve traditional building concepts whilst simultaneously addressing the industry’s most urgent challenges - housing shortfalls, skilled labour deficits and the need to decrease their CO2 emissions.

To address the housing shortfall in an environmentally conscious way will mean re-imagining the entire construction value chain, ensuring less materials are used and less waste is produced. The endgame will be making housing more efficiently and effectively, in order to make it more accessible and affordable for all. Modular construction can’t solve all the world’s housing problems, but what we’re seeing now is the small tip of a construction and design revolution that ultimately will do precisely that. Billions of us are depending on it.

The modules are manufactured so precisely that interior walls are fairface finish meaning they are ready to be painted. In fact, painters, electricians, and plumbers love working with our system, because 80% of their work is already done before they arrive on-site!”